Day Four is still pretty early, but a basho can begin to take shape for certain wrestlers. It's still impossible to say if the lack of a crowd is having much of a bearing. There is certainly an eeriness still palpable, and rikishi are beginning to follow some trends for this trip to Osaka.
M16e Azumaryu (3-1) wins by hatakikomi over M17e Meisei (1-3)
Azumaryu has been steady so far, keeping a wide base and taking advantage of mistakes his opponent makes. Meisei has been struggling and easily gave up the opening for a slap-down.
M18e Kotonowaka (3-1) wins by yorikiri over M15e Tsurugisho (1-3)
Tsurugisho had the tachiai, but Kotonowaka reversed his hold for a double-inside grip while spinning around and forced Tsurugisho out.
M16w Shimanoumi (3-1) wins by yorikiri over M15w Chiyomaru (3-1)
Shimanoumi kept the big man moving, as is his wont, and after circling the whole ring managed to force him out.
M14e Kaisei (1-3) wins by yorikiri over M17w Daiamami (1-3)
Kaisei picked up his first win with a classic performance against Daiamami, although its unclear how many of these he really has in him still.
M13w Aoiyama (4-0) wins by kotenage over M14w Nishikigi (0-4)
Nishikigi did successfully keep this from a pushing match, but it didn't matter. Aoiyama was able to easily grab Nishikigi and send him over with the kotenage. Not a good sign for Nishikigi.
M12e Ishiura (4-0) wins by yorikiri over M11e Chiyotairyu (3-1)
Ishiura did an Enho-style submarine tachiai, which allowed him to redirect Chiyotairyu from underneath. His yorikiri was so forceful that Chiyotairyu landed awkwardly and fell hard off the dohyo. He was wheeled off it was so bad.
M11w Terutsuyoshi (2-2) wins by shitatenage over M13e Kotoshogiku (1-3)
Terutsuyoshi fought Kotoshogiku's match and still won. That was because he successfully got underneath the older man and used his leverage from there.
M12w Ikioi (3-1) wins by oshidashi over M10w Tochiozan (0-4)
Tochiozan looks totally hapless. Ikioi still look injured (what else is new), but is getting the wins this basho with a straight ahead approach.
M9e Takanosho (4-0) wins by yorikiri over M9w Tochinoshin (1-3)
Takanosho is fighting forcefully and effectively, with little wasted effort. Tochinoshin's bad right knee is now not allowing him to get any solid positioning at all.
M8w Kiribayama (2-2) wins by shitatenage over M10e Sadanoumi (1-3)
Kiribayama with the spectacular win, turning around Sadanoumi at the edge for a powerful shitatenage.
M7e Takarafuji (2-2) wins by sukuinage over M7w Tamawashi (1-3)
This one was a little odd, as Tamawashi had the forward momentum, but Takarafuji backed up enough until Tamawashi ended up lying flat.
M6w Kagayaki (3-1) wins by oshidashi over M8e Shohozan (1-3)
Kagayaki just kept up the attack against an increasingly wild and desperate Shohozan.
M5w Onosho (3-1) wins by oshidashi over M5e Ryuden (2-2)
Onosho made sure to never get caught in a Ryuden grip, and he regrouped after an initial pushback to charge hard and send Ryuden over the dohyo.
M4w Abi (2-2) wins by hikiotoshi over M6e Myogiryu (0-4)
Abi started with his usual double-arm-opening, then felt Myogiryu move sideways and neatly executed the pull down, a rather unusual move for him.
M3w Mitakeumi (4-0) wins by yorikiri over M3e Yutakayama (2-2)
Mitakeumi is in his yusho-winning form, getting his shoulders at right about his opponent's mid-chest and easily pushing them backwards.
K1w Endo (2-2) wins by yoritaoshi over M2w Tokushoryu (0-4)
Well, the fairy tale is definitely over, and Endo rather dominated Tokushoryu in this match.
S1e Asanoyama (4-0) wins by sukuinage over K1e Hokutofuji (2-2)
Asanoyama never got a solid grip against the hard-charging Hokutofuji here, so he moved a smidge and pulled out a right-handed beltless arm throw. That kind of versatility does not bode well for Asanoyama's opponent.
S1w Shodai (3-1) wins by yorikiri over M4e Enho (1-3)
As a big, strong reactive rikishi who can react to anything, Shodai is tailor-made to dominate Enho. He here grabbed Enho during the up-and-under and unceremoniously forced him out and off the dohyo.
M1e Daieisho (1-3) wins by oshidashi over O1e Takakeisho (2-2)
Daieisho did well to keep up the fight, but the real story is Takakeisho for some reason looking to move backwards. Weird strategy for the Ozeki, and it cost him.
Y1e Hakuho (4-0) wins by uwatenage over M2e Okinoumi (1-3)
Hakuho isn't dominating early-on, but he is winning. Against Okinoumi, he lost the initial battle for a grip initially, but very easily turned the match around to get the throw off for a win.
Y1wYO Kakuryu (3-1) wins by tsukiotoshi over M1w Takayasu (0-4)
Takayasu once again fought well in defeat, keeping the match going for a long while. Troublingly, Takayasu appeared to pop something in his left leg just before he went down and he needed plenty of assistance just to get back up, much less make it to the back.
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